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NTUC-U Care Fund Committed $31.5M to Help Union Members in 2020; Beneficiaries to Benefit from Counselling Services in 2021

More than 33,000 NTUC union members and 26,000 children benefitted from various assistance programmes implemented in 2020.
By Ian Tan Hanhonn 07 Jan 2021
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The NTUC-U Care Fund committed $31.5 million to help lower-income union members and those who have had their incomes significantly reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, announced NTUC on 7 January 2021.

The amount went towards the funding of various assistance programmes, such as the NTUC Care Fund (COVID-19) and the U Care Education Co-Funding scheme – which are still open for applications.

The NTUC-U Care Fund was started in 2009 to help NTUC union members affected by the economic downturn.

Meanwhile, 2021 will see NTUC-U Care Fund beneficiaries start benefiting from one-to-one counselling services by Mind Culture – a psychological centre in Singapore..

NTUC will partner the centre to help beneficiaries better identify, manage and overcome difficulties they may experience during the current crisis brought about by COVID-19.

NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Zainal Sapari said NTUC will continue to help members through challenges.

“This [helping members] would not be possible without the support of the Government, our Labour Movement network and our esteemed donors, who continue to do good despite a bleak economic situation,” said Mr Zainal, who is also the director of NTUC Care and Share Department.

Initiatives Implemented in 2020

NTUC Care Fund (COVID-19)

Launched in March 2020, the NTUC Care Fund (COVID-19) provides up to $300 cash relief to union members whose incomes have been severely affected by COVID-19.

$25 million was earmarked for the programme, and applications are still being accepted till 28 February 2021.

As of 18 December 2020, more than $16 million was disbursed, benefiting some 33,000 members.

NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers)

Some 22,000 union members received up to $100 worth of assistance, and an additional $100 per eligible school-going child, from the $6 million NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers) programme.

Rather than giving separate vouchers for daily necessities and school-related expenses, the programme now has greater flexibility allowing beneficiaries to use the vouchers based on their needs and circumstances.

About 26,000 children benefited from this initiative in 2020.

U Care Education Co-Funding Scheme

The U Care Education Co-Funding scheme, aimed at motivating union members’ school-going children to excel in their studies, is an education bursary awards co-funded by NTUC-affiliated unions and associations.

About 4,500 children benefitted from this programme last year.

CapitaLand-U Care Resilience and Enablement Fund (CAP+Ure)

Providing interim support for low-to-medium income union members who are impacted by COVID-19, the CapitaLand-U Care Resilience and Enablement Fund has benefitted close to 300 union members, with $250 NTUC FairPrice vouchers.

Given to each applicable child to help them tide over their basic nutritional and educational needs, applications are still open for this initiative.